FEBRUARY 2024
CENTER GALLERY
The Animals Within | Amy Schilling
Within society we are taught that expressing too much of our inner workings is shameful. We must hide all the ugly parts of ourselves in a dark room, paint our faces, and show to everyone we are happy, and healthy. When the darkness comes creeping out, there are hushed tones and changes of the topic. In my experience growing up, there was always this creature hidden in the shadows, not knowing what that feeling is and why it haunts me. Many people grow up also not understanding what lurks inside them. I was told that that's life, suck it up, and carry on despite the pain of this invisible force weighing down, crushing you. For so long mental health issues weren’t taught or discussed. It has put isolating barriers up in relationships with family and friends. After years of walls built up around me, I have torn them down piece by piece. I made myself be raw with my emotions with my loved ones. Through sculpting with ceramics it has allowed me to depict for them how things feel. I have been able to process and come to terms with my own experiences and be better understood by those I care about.
This exhibition documents the struggles and invisible feelings we fight with everyday. I’m able to portray the many aspects of mental illness with animals as subject matter by utilizing their characteristics and animalistic nature that is unique to that species. I silhouette each of these animals in an ornate frame, in order to highlight the beautiful parts of ourselves that we have survived through, almost like a trophy of what we overcome. Through my work I hope to initiate an open discussion about what is considered a taboo topic. Invoking specific emotions that others might not understand, to bring people together to be vulnerable and raw with their struggles, feelings, in order to realize they aren’t alone and it isn’t something to be ashamed about.
Photos by Hans Hallinen